A Study Shows What British People Want in Their Local Shops
Introduction
A new study asked British people what shops they want on their local high street. The study also asked what shops they do not want. In another place, a shopping centre in Ashford is being knocked down.
Main Body
The study asked 2,040 shoppers and 650 shop owners. 70% of people said they want a bakery. 69% want free parking. 59% want a small coffee shop. 58% want a bank. 57% want a cash machine. 57% want small restaurants. 55% want a butcher. 52% want a supermarket. 50% want a chemist. 48% want a café. People also like big shops like Greggs (41%), M&S (40%), and Boots (39%). But people do not want some shops. 68% do not want vape shops. 66% do not want empty shops with boards on windows. 52% do not want gambling arcades. 45% do not want betting shops. 36% do not want tanning salons. 19% do not want big coffee shops. Half of the people said their local high street is very important for the community. People spend about £66 each month on the high street. 95% said they would spend more money if there were more different shops. 71% of small shop owners said their business is okay or growing. 39% are opening new shops. Some shops tell a story and help the community. These shops grow more. Some shops only sell cheap things. These shops have problems. 92% of shoppers said because of AI, they want to see products in real shops. 85% like to talk to a person, not a machine. Some shop owners talked about their experience. Paul Grout is a butcher. He said it is important to know about meat and to know customers. Free parking brings people to his shop. Imogen Corker works in a café. She said the government should give money and lower taxes to small shops. She said Australia does this better. Stephen Hopkinson lives near the high street. He said it costs money to visit every day, but it is important to help local shops. Taner Kose owns a coffee shop. He said small shop owners help each other. They share things. Christiana Charalambous works in a shop. She said customers come back because of friendly people. Small shops are something to look up to. Keith Hunt owns an eco-shop. He said last year's budget and world problems made fuel prices go up. But he thinks his shop will still grow. In Ashford, Kent, workers started to knock down a shopping centre. It will take up to one year. The shopping centre was losing money. Big shops like Wilko left. The cost to keep it was too high. Some shop owners near the centre are angry. They started a petition to stop the full demolition. The same report said there are three betting shops close together on Earl's Court high street in London. In the last 12 months, there were 711 incidents of bad behaviour and 471 violent and sexual crimes in that area. These crimes were 50% of all crimes there.
Conclusion
The study shows that British people still like their local high streets. They want small shops and important services like bakeries, free parking, and banks. They do not want vape shops or empty shops. But high streets are changing. Workers are knocking down some shopping centres. And areas with many betting shops have problems with crime.